US4861272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Impedance controlled connector interface
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 1988-03-31
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Granted: 1989-08-29
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Expires: 2008-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A connector interface for electrically mating a multi-row connector with a printed circuit board is defined by a flex circuit in the form of laminated polyimide layers having conductive traces for each interconnect pair with connection fields at the opposite ends of the traces for electrical connection to the terminal pins on the connector and the conductive pads or pins on the circuit board. The conductive traces are all of equal length to provide equal resistance and impedance paths for each of the circuit interconnects.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen L. Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/79; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0237; H05K1/11; H05K1/118
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A connection interface for electrically connecting a multi-row connector or header having N rows of connection devices (where N≧2) to a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a flex circuit having a first field of N rows of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of N rows of connection areas for connection to a corresponding connection field associated with a circuit bearing substrate, said flex circuit having N sets of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas in each corresponding row of the first connection field and the second connection field, each of said traces presenting substantially the same impedance between its connection areas as the other of the traces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A connection interface for electrically connecting a multi-row connector or header having N rows of connection devices (where N≧2) to a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a flex circuit having a first field of N rows of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of N rows of connection areas for connection to a corresponding connection field associated with a circuit bearing substrate, said flex circuit having N sets of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas in each corresponding row of the first connection field and the second connection field, each of said traces presenting substantially the same impedance between its connection areas as the other of the traces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 1, wherein each of said traces is of equal length between their respective connection areas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connection interface of claim 1, wherein each of said traces is of equal electrical resistance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 1, wherein each of said traces of defined by at least first and second sub-portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
A connection system for connecting a multi-row connector or header having at least two rows of connection devices to a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a first circuit defined by first and second layers of an insulating sheet material and having a first field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding connection field associated with a circuit bearing substrate, the first and second connection area fields each defined by a respective first row of connection areas and a respective second row of connection areas, said flex circuit having a first set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the first row of the first and second connection fields and a second set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the second row of the first and second connection fields, each of said traces of said first and second sets of traces presenting substantially the same impedance to its connection areas as the other traces in its set and the traces of the other set.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A connection system for connecting a multi-row connector or header having at least two rows of connection devices to a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a first circuit defined by first and second layers of an insulating sheet material and having a first field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding connection field associated with a circuit bearing substrate, the first and second connection area fields each defined by a respective first row of connection areas and a respective second row of connection areas, said flex circuit having a first set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the first row of the first and second connection fields and a second set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the second row of the first and second connection fields, each of said traces of said first and second sets of traces presenting substantially the same impedance to its connection areas as the other traces in its set and the traces of the other set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 5, wherein each of said traces is of equal length between their respective connection areas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connection interface of claim 5, wherein each of said traces is of equal electrical resistance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 5, wherein each of said traces of defined by at least first and second sub-portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The connection interface of claim 5, wherein the first and second rows of connection areas for the first connection area field and the second connection area field are separated by the same inter-row spacing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
227 words
A connection system for connecting a multi-row connector or header having at least three rows of connection devices to a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a flex circuit defined by first and second layers of an insulating sheet material and having a first field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding connection field associated with a circuit bearing substrate, the first and second connection area fields of said flex circuit each defined by a respective first row of connection areas, a respective second row of connection areas, and a respective third row of connection areas, said flex circuit having a first set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the first rows of the first and second connection fields, a second set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the second rows of the first and second connection fields, and a third set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the third rows of the first and second connection fields, each of said traces of said first, second, and third sets presenting substantially the same impedance to its connection areas as the other traces in its set and the traces of the other sets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
227 words
A connection system for connecting a multi-row connector or header having at least three rows of connection devices to a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a flex circuit defined by first and second layers of an insulating sheet material and having a first field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding connection field associated with a circuit bearing substrate, the first and second connection area fields of said flex circuit each defined by a respective first row of connection areas, a respective second row of connection areas, and a respective third row of connection areas, said flex circuit having a first set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the first rows of the first and second connection fields, a second set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the second rows of the first and second connection fields, and a third set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the third rows of the first and second connection fields, each of said traces of said first, second, and third sets presenting substantially the same impedance to its connection areas as the other traces in its set and the traces of the other sets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 10, wherein each of said traces is of equal length between their respective connection areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connection interface of claim 10, wherein each of said traces is of equal electrical resistance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 10, wherein each of said traces of defined by at least first and second sub-portions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The connection interface of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third rows of connection areas for the first connection area field and the second connection area field are separated by the same inter-row spacing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
359 words
A connection system for connecting a multi-row connector or header having at least six rows of connection devices to opposite sides of a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a six row connector or header attached to an edge of a circuit bearing substrate and having the first three rows of connection devices associated with one side of the circuit bearing substrate and the second three rows of connection devices associated with the other side of the circuit bearing substrate, said circuit bearing substrate having a first connection field on the one side for connection with the first three rows and a second connection field on the opposite side for connection to the second three rows; first and second flex circuits for connecting, respectively, the first three rows to the first connection field of the circuit bearing substrate and the second three rows to the second connection field of the circuit bearing substrate, each flex circuit defined by first and second layers of an insulating sheet material and having a first field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of connection areas for connection to the second connection field associated with the circuit bearing substrate, the first and second connection area fields each defined by a respective first row of connection areas, a respective second row of connection areas, and a respective third row of connection areas, said flex circuit having a first set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the first rows of the first and the second connection field, a second set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the second rows of the first and the second connection fields, and a third set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the connection areas of the third rows of the first and the second connection field, each of said traces of said first, second, and third set presenting substantially the same impedance to its connection areas as the other of the traces in its set and the traces of the other sets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
359 words
A connection system for connecting a multi-row connector or header having at least six rows of connection devices to opposite sides of a circuit bearing substrate, comprising: a six row connector or header attached to an edge of a circuit bearing substrate and having the first three rows of connection devices associated with one side of the circuit bearing substrate and the second three rows of connection devices associated with the other side of the circuit bearing substrate, said circuit bearing substrate having a first connection field on the one side for connection with the first three rows and a second connection field on the opposite side for connection to the second three rows; first and second flex circuits for connecting, respectively, the first three rows to the first connection field of the circuit bearing substrate and the second three rows to the second connection field of the circuit bearing substrate, each flex circuit defined by first and second layers of an insulating sheet material and having a first field of connection areas for connection to a corresponding tail-portion field and having a second field of connection areas for connection to the second connection field associated with the circuit bearing substrate, the first and second connection area fields each defined by a respective first row of connection areas, a respective second row of connection areas, and a respective third row of connection areas, said flex circuit having a first set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the first rows of the first and the second connection field, a second set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the second rows of the first and the second connection fields, and a third set of electrically conductive traces extending between corresponding ones of the connection areas of the connection areas of the third rows of the first and the second connection field, each of said traces of said first, second, and third set presenting substantially the same impedance to its connection areas as the other of the traces in its set and the traces of the other sets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 15, wherein each of said traces is of equal length between their respective connection areas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connection interface of claim 15, wherein each of said traces is of equal electrical resistance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connection interface of claim 15, wherein each of said traces of defined by at least first and second sub-portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The connection interface of claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third rows of connection areas for the first connection area field and the second connection area field are separated by the same inter-row spacing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |